Game



May 26, 1925'. 1,539,547

S. DIAMANT GAME Filed Jan. 30, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 will ATTORNEY May 26, 1925. 1,539,547

S. DIAMANT GAME Filed Jan- 1 50, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 3' ATTORNEY Patented May 26, 1925.

UNITED STATES SIDNEY DIAMANT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

GAME.

Application filed January 30, 1925. Serial No. 5,695.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, SIDNEY DIAMANT, a. citizen of the United States, and resident of New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Games, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to games, and has for its primary object to provide a simple and novel game device which can be manufactured and sold at nominal cost, and which will afford considerable amusement in the playing thereof.

It is one of the primary objects of my present improvements to provide a game device of that type wherein a projectile is impelled over the surface of a board having numerous obstructions impeding the movement of the projectile, and one or more pockets arranged below the obstructions in which the projectile may be caught and thereby returned to its starting point.

More particularly, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, 1 provide a suitable box or container having a transparent front wall and an intermediate plate or board provided with a plurality of staggered obstructions thereon, together with a basket or pocket horizontally shiftable upon said plate below the obstructions. At one side of the plate and below said pocket or basket an inclined runway is provided and at the opposite side of said plate a second reversely inclined runway is arranged, said runway leading in an opening through which the projectiles discharged from the pocket or basket upon said runway may pass to said first-named runway. At the lower end of the latter runway suitable means is arranged for impelling the projectiles over the obstructed area of said plate between which they fall by gravity either directly upon the latter runway or into said shiftable pocket or basket.

With the above and other objects in View, the invention consists in the improved game, and in the form, construction and relative arrangement of its several parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and subsequently incorporated in the subjoined claims.

In the drawings, wherein I have illustrated several simple and practical embodiments of the invention, and in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,-

Figure 1 is a front elevation illustrating a preferred embodiment of my present improvements Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a. vertical sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a detail vertical section taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation showing a slightly modified form of the device;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevation illustrating another alternative construction;

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 77 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a view sirhilar,t0 Fig. 6, showing still another embodiment of the device, and

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 99 of Fig. 8.

Referring in detail to the drawings, 5 and 6 designate the side-and end marginal walls respectively, of a box of suitable area and preferably of rectangular form, said marginal walls being suitably fixed upon the edges of a base 7. Between the box walls 5 and 6, a plate of glass or other transparent material indicated at 8, is suitably fitted and closes the front side of the box. Intermediate of this transparent frontplate andthe base 7 of the box and in parallel relation therewith, the plate 9 which may consist of a sheet of tin or other sultable material is securely fixedbetween the marginal walls 5 and 6.

In spaced parallel relation to the right hand marginal wall 5 between the plate 9 and the glass plate 8 and disposed in a plane at right angles thereto, the metal strip 10 is arranged and securely fixed at one of its edges to the plate 9 in any suitable manner. The space between this strip 10 and themarginal wall 5 provides a runway 11 terminating in spaced relation to the upper'and marginal wall 6 of the box. Vith this wall and the adjacent side wall 5 the ends of a curved metal corner strip 12 are engaged and extend substantially in tangential rela tion therewith. This metal strip likewise is suitably fixed to the plate 9.

Upon the front side of the upper portion of the plate 9 between the strip 10 and the lefthand marginal Wall 5 of the box. a

multiplicity of obstructions 13 are secured. As herein shown these obstructions are in the form of pins arranged in parallel rows in stag ered relation to each other. Below these 0 structions the plate 9 is pro ided with a horizontally extending slot 14 which terminates at the right hand end. thereof in line with the metal strip 10. Below and in spaced relation to this slot and between the front side of the plate 9 and the glass plate 8 a runway 15 1s arranged, said runway consisting of a metal strip fixed at one edge to the plate 9 and inclined downwardly from the left marginal wall 5 of the box to a point below and in spaced relation to the lower end of the metal strip 10.

Between the plate 9 and the base wall 7 of the box, a second runway 16 is arrangedstrip indicated at 19 is transversely inclined.

between the plate 9 and the base wall 7 of the box and extends around the lower portion of an opening 20 formed in the plate 9. For this opening, I preferably provide a closure 21, which in the present instance is in the form of a disc provided upon one end of an angular lever 22 fulcrumed at the junction of its angular portions as at 23 upon the outer face of the plate 9. The disc 21 is normally positioned by the action of gravity over the opening 20 and closes oommunication between the runways 15 and 16 on opposite sides of said'plate'. The horizontal portion of the lever 22 extends through a suitable slot in the marginal wall 5 of the box.

Beneath the left hand lower end of the runway 15 a horizontally disposed lever 24 I is fulcrumed at its irgler end as at 25 upon the outer face of the plate 9; This lever projects beyond the end of the runway and is yieldingly urged upwardly by means of the spring 26 housed within a tube 27 suitably fixed upon the plate 9'in line with the runway 11. The wall of this tube at its upper end is provided with slots 28 in the opposite sides thereof to permit of-vertical movement of the lever, one of said slots 00- inciding with a slot 29 in the mar inal wall 5 of the box through which said lever projects.

Upon the inner side of the metal strip 10 at its lower end a vertically movable gate 30 is mounted in suitable guides, theupper end of said gate being provided with an angular operating handle 31 extending throughcthe slot 14 in the plate 9 transgiven a higher value.

versely of the box. vOne end of this lever is horizontally disposed and is vertically movable in the slot 33 formed in a'flange 34 extending rearwardly' of the plate 9 at the right hand end of the slot 14,. said hori-.

slot 15 in the wall 9 at the front side thereof a pocket or basket 35 is slidably mounted. This basket may be conveniently formed from sheet metal or other material and to the same one end of a rod 36 is suitably attached, said rod extending through an opening in the right handle marginal wall 5 of the box and being provided upon the latter end thereof with a suitable finger piece 37, whereby it may be conveniently manipulated.

My improved game may be played with a plurality of differently colored balls or similar projectiles indicated at 38. I have herein shown three such balls, and in playing the game the gate 30 is lowered to, the

position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings,

so that only oneof the balls is in position at the lower end of the runway 11 upon the lever 24 while the other two balls are held by the gate 30 upon the runway 15. The

player then forces the outer end of lever 24 downwardly against the action of the spring 26 andreleases the same so that the ball upon saidlever is violently projected or 'impelled through the runway 11 and striking against the curved plate 12 is directed laterally upon the area of the board or plate 9 having the obstructions 13 thereon. As the ball descends by gravity between these obstructions, the player by means of the rod 36, shifts the basket 35 and endeavors to catch the descending ball therein. If he succeeds, the ball isdelivered through the rear open side of. this pocket upon the runway 16 and rolls downwardliy transversely incline section 19 thereof.

opening 20 is checked by the closure disc 21. The player then repeats the same operation with the other two balls 38. In scoring the game, the balls which are not caught in the basket 35 but descend directly to the runway 15 are givena certain value, while those balls which arecaught in the basket 35 are By providing the closure disc 21 for the opening 20, the balls of different values can be easily differentiated from each other so that no questions may arise between the players. After the score has been counted, the outer end of lever 22 is depressed, thus swinging the to the left upon the trated a modified construction wherein in-' steal of the single horizontally shiftable basket 35, I provide a series of s aced fixed baskets 35 below the staggered o structions 13. Therefore, the fall of the ball through one of the baskets in this case is solely a matter of chance and does not depend upon the skill or quickness of the player as in the construction first described. The same arrangement of the two runways is provided in this construction, though as indicated, the game may be played with a single ball and the movable gates 21 and omitted.

In Figs. 6 and 7 I illustrate another alternative construction wherein only a single runway 15 is provided between the outer side of the plate 9 and the front glass plate 8. In this case, the plate 9 is provided below the obstructions thereon with a relatively narrow horizontal slot '14 and the basket is provided at its upper end with suitable hooks or other means engaged over the lower edge of the slot. In this case the basket is open at its bottom, so that in the playing of the game, if the player succeeds in catching the ball in the basket, it falls directly therethrough to the runway 15'. Therefore, the play must be closely watched to differentiate between the balls which pass through the basket and those which are not caught therein.

In Figs. 8 and 9 of the drawings, I show still another construction wherein instead of passing the balls directly through the basket to the inner and outer runways, I provide a relatively long basket 35* of sufliclent capacity to hold the three balls at one time. This basket is mounted for sliding movement upon the outer side of the plate 9 substantially as shown in-Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawings, and the rear open side of the basket is normally closed by the plate 9. In addition to the outer runway 15 I provide between the plate 9 and the base of the box at the right hand side thereof, a relatively short inclined runway 16 leading to the opening 20 in the plate 9. Above the inclined section of the runway 16 said plate 9 is also provided with a second opening which is in line with the lower end portion of the basket 35. It will thus be readily understood that in this construction the player shifts the basket 35 across the plate 9 and endeavors to catch all three of the balls in said basket. the three balls, those which he succeeds in catching in the basket are discharged therefrom by moving the basket to the extreme After he has played.

left hand position so that the rear side thereof will overlie the opening 40. The halls then descend by gravity through said opening 40 upon the runway 16 and subsequent ly pass through the opening 20 to the outer runway 15 and return to the starting point.

From the above description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings the several forms of my invention as herein described will be readily understood. It will be seen that I have devised a game which will be highly amusing, and which is of such construction that it may be manufactured and sold at nominal cost. The game can be made of relatively small size for individual use or it can be constructed on a larger scale for use at fairs or amusement resorts. Also, while I have herein referred tovarious desirable embodiments of my present improvements, it will nevertheless be understood that the essential features of the device may be susceptible of embodiment in various other alternative structural forms, and I, therefore, reserve the privilege of adopting all such legitimate changes therein as may be fairly embodied within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. A game of the character described comprising a plate having a plurality of obstructions projecting from one side thereof and a runway at one edge of said plate, a basket mounted on the plate beneath said obstructions and open at its upper end, a horizontally inclined runway on .the plate below said basket to receive the projectile and return the same 'to said first named runway, and means for impelling a projectile through said first named runway and upon the part of the plate having said obstructions thereon.

2. A game of the character described comprising a plate having a runway at one edge thereof, a basket horizontally movable upon one side of said plate, means for shifting said basket, and means for impelling a projectile through said runway and directing the same over the surface of said plate to descend by gravity thereon towards said basket.

3. A game of the character described comand a horizontal slot thereon below said obstructions, a runway at one edge of said plate, means for impelling a projectile through said runway to" descend by gravity over the obstructed area of the plate, and means manually shiftable upon said plate vfor directing the projectile through the slot therein to the opposite side of said plate.

5. A game of the character described comprising a plate, a plurality of obstruction projecting from one side thereof, a runway at one edge of said plate, reversely inclined runways arranged below said obstructions at relatively opposite sides of the plate, one of said runways leading to said first-named runway, means for impelling a projectile through the latter runway and over the obstructed area of the plate, said projectile adapted to descend by gravity, and means shiftable upon one side of said plate above one of said second-named runways for directing the descending projectile upon the runway 0n the opposite sid of the plate.

6. A game of the character described comprising'a plate having a plurality of obstructions projecting from one side thereof and a horizontal slot therein below said obstructions, a runway at one edge of said plateextending at right angles to said slot, additional reversely inclined runways below said slot on relatively opposite sides of said plate, one of the latter runways leading to said first-named runway, means .for impelling a projectile through said first-named runway and upon the obstructed area of the plate, and a basket manually shiftable along said slot adapted to receive the projectile and direct the same through said slot upon the other of said second-named runways.

7 A game of the character described comprising a plate having a plurality of obstructions projecting from one'side thereof and a horizontal slot therein below said obstructlons, a runway at one edge of said plate extending at right angles to said slot, additional reversely inclined runways below said sloton relatively opposite sides of said plate, one of the latter runways leading to said first-named runway, means for impelling a projectile through said first-named runway and upon the obstructed area of the plate, a basket manually shiftable along said slot adapted to receive the projectile and direct the same through said slot upon the other of said second-named runways, said plate having an opening therein aflfording communication between said reversely inclined runways, and manually operable means normal- 1y closing said opening.

A gameof the character described comprising a vertically positioned plate having mediate means for impelling a projectile through the first-named runway over the obstructed area of said plate, and a basket shiftable along the slot ll'l sald plate adapted to receive the projectile and direct the same through said slot upon the latter inclined runway.

9. A game of the character described comprising a rectangular box, a transparent plate closing one side of said box, an interla-te parallel with said transparent plate and the base of the box and having a plurality of spaced obstructions on one side thereof, a runway at one side of the box, said plate having a horizontal slot therein extending at right angles to the runway below said obstructions, reversely inclined runways below said slot at opposite sides of said plate, said plate having an opening therein affording communication between said runways, a manually operable closure for said opening, one of said runways leading to said first-named runway, a manually operable gate for opening and closing communication between the latter runways, means for impelling a projectile through the first-named runway and upon the obstructed area of said plate, and a basket slidably mounted upon the edges of said slot and manually shiftable therealong to direct the projectile through said slotand upon the other of said inclined runways.

10. A game of: the character described comprising a rectangular support adapted to be arranged in a vertical position and having a plurality of spaced obstructions projecting from one side thereof, a runway extending along one of the side edges of the support, means permanently arranged atone end of said runway for impelling a projectile therethrough, means at the other endof the runway for directing the projectile over and upon the obstructions on said suphereto.

SIDNEY DIAMA'N T. 

